SHAKESPEARE’S CULTURE, SOCIETY,

AND TOWN LIFE

By: Kelly McHughNicole Campbell

Skyler SmithTyler FormanMaria Pfister

Shakespeare’s culture Shakespeare’s time was during the middle ages so most goods were

sent by water. Guilds controlled the trade in a town. Guilds controlled prices,

quality, weights ,and business practices. All repairs to streets were made by house owners. There were

possibilities that citizens would try to build their road higher than others.

Sanitation was a constant concern . People would throw their garbage and dirty water out their windows.

Most people kept pigs because they were cheap but they were constantly roaming the streets.

Towns had sanctuary's. This meant If a fugitive managed to reach a church they could claim the right of sanctuary there for a period of 40 days. This meant that someone would have to stand watch outside the church for the entire time to ensure that the fugitive did not escape, a job that no one wanted.

SHAKESPEARE’S CULTURE

•In Shakespeare's culture there was over 1,000 fugitives in England. Fugitives would be fined to a sanctuary for 40 days if they have reached a church. Someone would have to stand every day outside and watch guard. If a fugitive escaped the watch keeper would be fined. •There were many curfews in the town to keep the peace. The curfew bell was approximately rung by 8 or 9 pm. This meant that brewers, Tavernier's, and smith’s could go home from their long day at work. • Many towns people had a fear of fire. Fires were dangerous because of how fast they could spread. The towns people did not have a supply of water. • most houses were build out of wood because of the expenses. Houses started to be made by brick during the Tudor times. • everyone in the town had to keep a full vessel of water by their door step incase of a fire. • town day formally began with a ring of a bell around 5 o’clock each morning. This proclaimed the first mass of the day. Shops opened early 6 o’clock each morning. towns folks had their first meal time around 9 or 10 o’clock AM. This gave them a break from shopping. • markets were very crowded and noisy. Merchants had to “cry the wares” to get customers attention.• Saturday was a day for shop closings. • in the town bells were a great because it helped towns people keep time. Bells are helpful for court cases, fires, or summon civic meetings. Criers were a great cause for news, they also help ring the bell to aware town dwellers.

Culture

THE RICH THE POOR

Meals Meals were often elaborate and

very large Breakfast was usually simple

and light Dinner, or the main meal,

started at 11 o'clock and lasted 3 hours

A lighter supper was prepared at around 6 o'clock but did not compare to the main meal.

The richer class usually ate off of silver, glass, or delft from Holland

Meals These meals were not

even close to the size portions of the rich.

Had the main meal at noon

A lighter supper at 7 or 8 They ate of off wooden

vessels or pewter because they were less expensive

TOWN LIFE∙The town was built on trade, and full of merchants. Merchants needed stability, so they supported the king and a strong government. Merchant guilds controlled society but often clashed with craft guilds for powerMerchant Guilds: controlled trade in cityCraft Guilds: controlled quality of workplace

Town life

Everyday concerns: -sanitation of streets -fear of fires ∙buildings were concerned, made out of brick

not wood∙beds in houses were made from straw

Day Routine: - started with bell at 4/5 o’clock -shops opened around 6 -first meal around 9/10

TOWN LIFEMarket Day: -mornings were busiest - settled down by noon - most closed at 3 or until the sun went down - barbers/blacksmiths stayed open until crew few bell

Weekends: -Saturday

∙early closing day, close around 12 -Sunday

∙supposed to be restful day∙trades were allowed to work after mass∙field work could be done before mass

Society Many common games played were paum,

cockfighting, and bull and bear baiting. Paum – the ancestor of tennis These Medieval tournaments were

quickly replaced by masques. Masques were a sort of play full of

allegory and were very popular at this time

Fireworks were just invented and sometime incorporated into these masques

WORKS CITEDElizabethan Life, britainexpress.net. David Ross and

Britain express. Web. 2 April. 2012.

Medieval England – daily life in medieval towns,

britainexpress.net. David Ross and Britain

express.Web.2 April .2012.